Radio antenna



Nov. 19, 1940.

W. H. BOUGHTER RADIO yANTENNA Filed' Feb. 5, 1938 hij i Patented Nov.19, 1940 l UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE v RADIO ANTENNA William H.Boughter, Norristown, Pa., assigner to Superior Tube Company,Norristown, Pa.,v a corporation of Pennsylv ,'Appueeuen Februery 5,193s, serial Ne. 188,968

.1 Claim. (ci. asi-s) tively snug about the smaller diameter section 2This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in radio antennae,and more particularly to a novel telescopically adjustable radio antenna'for use on automobiles and other ve- 5 hicles in conjunction with radioreceiving sets.

Radio antennae of the type described are curprovide a telescopicallyadjustable radio antenna.

of the character set forth`having novel means for frictionally holdingthe several telescoping sections thereof in firm relation to each otherin all positions to which adjusted, thus-eliminating rattles therein andinsuring said sections remaining in the position to which adjusted.

These and other objects of the invention, as.

well as the features and details of construction thereof,are'hereinafte'r fully set forth and shown in the accompanying drawing,in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a telescopical- 1y adjustable radioantenna embodying the pres-- ent invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in section vertically through an upper partof said antenna.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view partially in section vertically through theother or lower portion '35 of the antenna. Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section taken` on line 6 4-, Figure 2;and

Figure 5 is au4 enlarged fragmentary viewv in perspectiveshowing certainfeatures and details 40 of the construction and arrangement oftheuppermost and intermediate telescoping sections of the antenna. vwReferring now4 particularly to the drawing, a .radio antenna madeaccording' to the present invention comprises a main or lower section' Iwith which is telescopically associated one yor more sections, two suchtelescopically adjustable sections 2 and 3 respectively beingillustrated in the present instance. ,The sections Iv and 2 are, ofcourse, hollow to provide the telescopic. structure and, as shownsection 2 telescopes within the mainrsection I, while section 3telescopes within said section 2.

. The section I is provided with a reduced neck Portion 4 at its upperend 'arranged to fit relawhich is in turn provided with a reduced neckportion 5 at lits upper end arranged to nt relativelysnug about thesmallerdiameter section 3 which is preferably of solid construction toren- 5 der it ,substantially rigid.l These reduced neck. portions andtend to prevent rain water and other matter from passing downwardlybetween the several sections, and in addition function,;as

hereinafter set forth, to prevent saidse'ctions 1d fromy being pulledentirely apart.

For the purpose of providing a rm friction.l support for and betweensections I and 2 of the. antenna, regardless of their telescopicrelation, a relatively resilient tubular u nmg s is met within 1s saidsectionA I, and as shown in the drawing, this lining t extendssubstantially throughout the length of the section and comprises aportion 1 of such external diameter as will frictionally env gage theinner surface-,of section I and a portion 20 'B of such internaldiameter as will frictionally embrace the external surface of theadjacent section 2 which telescopes therein. These portions l and 8 ofdifferent diameters extend throughout the length of the tubular lining 6and exert a'. 25 moderate friction grip upon both section I andl section2, thus eliminating play therebetween and preventing rattling thereofwhile insuring said sections remaining in the relative position to whichthey may be telescopically adjusted.

In like manner and for the'same purposes, a

similar tubular lining 9 is tted within section 2 of the antenna, and,as in the case of the lining S, lining il includes a portion Il of suchexternal diameter as will frictionally grip or em-l 85,

brace the external surface of the upper section 3 which telescopestherein.. To simplify the manufacture by elimination of closetolerances, the

. inner diameter of l each outer section, such as .i

and 2, is made somewhat larger than is needed@ to accommodate the outerdiameter of each inner section such as 2 and 3, From the foregoing, itwill be observed that the several sections of a Y telescopicallyadjustable radio antenna made in accordance with the foregoingldescription will be 45 rmly supported relative to each other at alltimes and will not' rattle, the several sections also being affordedsuilicient support to insure their remaining ,in thepositions to which`they may from time to time be adjusted. 50

It is absolutely essential that a good electrical Y.

connection for radio frequency currents obtains at all times and forthis reason several contactsV between the several sections of theantenna, are employed. One electrical connection between 55 the uppersection 3 is provided by an' arcuately is extremely unlikely'thatseveral suchfcontacts,

resilient spring I2 which is connected to a lug I3 provided at the lowerend of 'said section 3,

y and this spring I2 normally resides within the tubular lining 9 ofsection 2. The normal radius curvature of the axis of the spring I2. isrelatively small and when it is positioned within the tubular lining 9,it tends' to ex or straighten out, with -theresult that a portion ofsaid spring I2 is at. all'tim'es pressed rmly against the inner surfaceof said lining 9.

A connection 4between section 2 and section vI of the antenna isprovided by means of an inverted U-shaped strip I8 of resilient metalwhich, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, has its central portion I4 extendingthrough slots I5 formectin said s and 2 to prevent, the several sectionsfrom being l pulled entirely apart. Furthermore the liners 6 and 9provide direct contact between their respective sections along theoverlapping portionsthereofs and thus assist in providing electricalconnections between the several sections. This is' particularlyadvantageousA in view of the useof such antennae on automobiles and thelike where it has been found that a. single contact between the sectionssometimesfwill open intermittently and by providing several connectionsbetween 'the sections asin the v case,v it

vma'ining in the position I I il! `l any of which is suilicient, vwillopen at the same time, thus insuring electrical connection between theseveral'sections at `all times.

The particular construction, form or shape of the tubular linings 6 and9 is not confined to the particular construction or cross section shapeherein illustrated and described and said linings may be of any desiredor suitable form so long as they frictionally engage and supportadjacent telescoping sections at one or more points along the lengththereof, and in this and other respects, it is not intended to limit theinvention to the particular construction and arrangement disclosed, butthat changes and modiilcations may be embodied and incorporated thereinwithin the scope of the annexed claim.

I claim:

A radio antenna of the character described comprising a plurality ofsections telescopically adjustable one within another and being spacedfrom each other along a portion of their length,` and a tubular lining-frictionally secured within one section into which an adjacent sectiontelescopesfand arranged to slidably receive the latter, said liningbeing substantially as long as the spaced and overlapping portions ofsaid sections when in closed position and having diametrically opposedaxially extending portions oi predetermined diameter arranged tofrictionally engage the section inwhich disposed and diametricallyopposed axially extending other portions of less diameter arranged tofrictionally engage the adjacent inwardly telescoping section for thepurpose of eliminating play between adjacent sectionsV and insuring saidsections re to which adjusted.`

i l H. BOUGHT

